The Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang is blessed to have many people interested to extend help in the different ministries. People coming from different corners of the globe come to volunteer for a short or long period of time. Some share their time and expertise for a couple of days, for a week, a month, a year or two and even more. Volunteers are spread out to different parishes depending on their work interest and suitability. Medical practitioners such as doctors and nurses, and dental practitioners such as dentists may have been the most number of volunteers every year. Youth groups conducting summer camps and short activities to communities also have a big chunk of the volunteers coming for the year-round. Indeed, there is a variety of professions, skills, and talents that volunteers including lay missionaries and seminarians having mission exposures bring in to the various ministries of the prefecture.

Recently, five volunteers have said adieu. Leticia Isasi Guerrero who is from Spain came in February 2012. She was helping in coordinating some of the programs of Bishop Kike for the entire prefecture and was stationed in Battambang. She left for further studies at Georgetown University in Washington DC. Min Jung Kim also known as Anna was stationed in Kompong Thom. She taught English with the students living at the parish hostel with elementary to high school students. She also educates them in personal hygiene and conducts other personality development activities. Originally from Korea, Anna had to reinstate with her job in Australia as nurse after her three months stint.

Gordon Kao serves the parish in Siem Reap for a year. He hails from Taipei, Taiwan and acted as manager of the computer training course and Chinese and English classes that his organization sponsored as part of the parish educational programs. He plans to get a job back home and is hoping to be back in Cambodia when he saves enough money and continue to serve the Khmer youth. Harold de Witte is a seminarian from Belgium. He came to witness how Catholics who are not even one percent of the total population in Cambodia live amidst the Buddhist majority. He hops from one community to another during his two months stay to get a glimpse of how people live their faith. KC Doctolero came to Svay Sisophon last year from Manila, Philippines. She helped set up the website of the parish. She moved to Battambang in May of 2012 to update the website of the Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Church.

This month of September, there are some volunteers who will also bid goodbye. But just like as the saying goes: “when God closes the door he opens a window,” after some volunteers will leave, there are also many other generous people who are eager to come and offer their services.